Pneumatic suspension for vehicles



May 7, 1935 H. B. SIMMONS PNEUMATIC SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES Filed Nov.6, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M w BY M I WTORNEY May 7, 1935. H, B MMONS2,000,196

PNEUMATIC SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES Filed Nov. 6, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iINVE TOR ATTOR NEY Patented May 7, l935 UNITED STATES PNEUMATICSUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES Harold B. Simmons, Caldwell, N. J.

Application November 6, 1933, Serial No. 696,792

Claims.

This invention relates in general to the mount-v ing or suspension ofthe frame or chassis of a vehicle, particularly an automobile, onthe-running gear, and more especially the invention is 5 directed to theuse of pneumatic cushions wherebut known pneumatic suspensions of thisgen;

eral character are complicated and expensive and do not provide safe oradequately resilient supports for the vehicle frames.

One object of my invention is to provide a vehicle pneumatic suspensionof the general character described which shall embody novel and improvedfeatures of construction wherein the vehicle frame shall be directlyconnected to and mounted on the pneumatic cushion to provide a lowcenter or gravity in the vehicle and to reduce lateral movement ortendency to tipping of the frame to the minimum, so that the frame shallbe securely supported and at the same time a maximum of resiliency shallbe obtained, and the shock or rebound shall be reduced to the minimumwhereby the necessity for shock absorbers shall be obviated.

Another object is to provide such a pneumatic suspension for vehicleframes wherein the pneumatic cushions shall encircle the vehicle axlesin substantially direct contact therewith, and portions of the vehicleframe shall partially surround or embrace the pneumatic cushions toensure a safe and secure connection of the frame to the cushions,maximum of resiliency and minimum tendency to lateral or swayingmovement of the frame.

Other objects are to provide a vehicle pneumatic suspension of thischaracter including a novel and improved cushion and means for mountingit on the vehicle axle; to provide a novel and improved strap forconnecting the vehicle frame tothe cushion; to provide such a vehiclesuspension which shall include a small number of parts and shall besimple, durable and inexpensive; and to obtain other advantages andresults as will be brought out by the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which corresponding and likeparts are designated throughout the several views by the same referencecharacters,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automobile chassis and pneumaticsuspension embodying my invention, the axle being shown in transversesection.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1, v IFigure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional View on the line33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 44-of Figure3.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of one'of the, pneumatic cushions with onesection of-the stra broken away and shown in section. I Figure 6 is aschematic side elevation of the cushion and end elevation of the axleinseparated relation,

Figure 7 is a similar view showing-the manner of applying the cushion tothe axle and Figure 8 is a side elevation of a modified form ofpneumatic cushion.

Specifically describing the illustrated embe modified as desired. Thecushions may be in the form of a split ring and slipped over therespective collars as shown in Figure 7 or the cushions may be formed oftwo sections 50 and applied to the collars from opposite sides thereof,as shown in Figure 8. The cushions are,"of course, formed of suitablematerial such as rubher, and may be inflated in any suitable manner, forexample through valves 6 in the same way in which pneumatic tires areinflated.

Each collar 3 has end flanges l, and the inner peripheries of thecushions are formed to snugly fit between the flanges of the collars.The outer peripheries of the cushions have peripheral or circumferentialgrooves 9 to receive straps ID for connecting the cushions to thechassis of an automobile. As shown, each strap comprises two sections IIwhich are hingedly connected at one end as at 12 so as to form the strapin the nature of a split ring which can be slipped over the cushion 5 asshown by dot and dash lines in Figure 3. a

The chassis l3 of the automobile includes two side bars I4 each of whichhas seats conforming in shape to portions of the peripheries of therespective cushions 5 so as to directly receive the cushions as shown inFigures 1 to 3 inclusive. As shown, these seats l5 are arcuate andconcentric with the circular cushions. Also, the seats l5 preferablyhave grooves l5 to directly receive portions of the outer peripheries ofthe respective straps l0. For holding the sections H of the straptogether against relative movement and for connecting the straps to thechassis, each strap section is provided with a lateral lug [6. which issecured to the chassis by bolts or screws l1. Preferably the lugs [6 ofeach strap are disposed in the same chordal plane of the strap, althoughthe lugs may have other relations to the straps where desired. 7

With this construction, the vehicle frame is directly connected to andmounted on the pneumatic cushions which encircle the axles, whereby alow center of gravity in the'vehicle is ensured and tendency to lateralmovement or tipping of the frame is reduced to the minimum. The cushions5 are highly resilient so as to ensure substantially complete absorptionof shocks incident to running of the vehicle, the cushions also servingto reduce the shocks of rebound, whereby the necessity for shockabsorbers is obviated. The straps H provide simple and effectual meansfor positively connecting the chassis or vehicle frame tothe cushions,and the mounting of these straps in the grooves in the cushions and inthe grooves in the seats I5 of the chassis, provides resistance tomovement of the vehicle frame laterally relative to the cushions.

The cushions are preferably of a structure similar to so-called balloontires so as to have a high degree of resiliency, although the structureof the cushions may be modified to suit different conditions, forexample, in heavy vehicles the cushions would be made heavier than inlight passenger vehicles.

Cushions may be inflated in any suitable manner, as through the valves6, and such valves may be mounted as desired; for example the valve mayproject from the inner periphery of the cushion and be seated in arecess l8 in the collar 3.

To further restrain swaying or lateral movement of the chassis I mayutilize a known type of spring device commonly called a snubberanddesignated IS on the drawings. This device may be mounted at the middleof the axle and have flexible connectors connected to opposite side barsI3 of the chassis. The springs within the device I9 will yieldinglyrestrain lateral movement of the chassis. Obviously, other suitablemeans may be used for the same purpose.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiment ofthe invention illustrated and described is primarily for the purpose ofillustrating the principles of the invention and that the invention maybe embodied in many diiierent details of construction without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination of a chassis, an axle, an annular resilient cushionmounted on and encircling the axle in close relation thereto and havinga peripheral groove, an annular strap in said groove encircling saidcushion and having a substantial portion of its periphery in directcontact with said chassis, and means fastening said strap to saidchassis.

2. The combination. of an axle, an annular resilient cushion mounted onand encircling the axle, a chassis having a portion conforming to a partof the outer periphery of said cushion, said cushion having a peripheralgroove, an annular strap in said groove encircling said cushion, andsaid portion of the chassis having a groove directly receiving a portionof said strap, and means for fastening said strap to said chassis.

3. The combination of a chassis, an axle, an annular resilient cushionmounted on and encircling the axle in close relation thereto, an annularstrap encircling said cushion in direct engagement therewith and havinga substantial portion of its periphery in direct engagement with saidchassis, said annular strap including two hingedly connected segmentalsections and means connecting each section to said chassis to hold saidsections against relative movement and to fasten said strap to thechassis.

4. The combination of a chassis, an axle, an annular resilient cushionmounted on and encircling the axle in close relation thereto, an annularstrap encircling said cushion in direct engagement therewith and havinga substantial portion of its periphery in direct engagement with saidchassis, said annular strap including two hingedly connected segmentalsections each having a lateral lug, and means connecting said lugs tosaid chassis to hold said sections against relative movement and tofasten said strap to the chassis.

5. The combination of a chassis, an axle,an annular resilient cushionmounted on and encircling the axle in close relation thereto and havinga peripheral groove, an annular strap in said groove encircling saidcushion, and means fastening said strap to said chassis.

HAROLD B. SIMMONS.

